eNews: SCPTSA General Meeting, Monday, October 15

Dear PTA and PTSA Leaders,

We would like to welcome our newest Seattle Council Board Members:

Central Area Director - Katherine Schomer
Enrichment Co-Chair - Daphne Dejanikus
Enrichment Co-Chair - Leanne Hawkins

Lauren McGuire and Rita Sheckler

Co-Presidents, Seattle Council PTSA

Question of the Week:

I have been going through documents, and noticed that "Each PTA must file a Building Use Permit form with the school district for any PTA-sponsored events it plans to hold on school property", per the Seattle Council PTSA Resource Guide 2012-13, page 7 of 8, under PTA Meetings, first paragraph.

Would you please tell me how I would go about doing that?

Answer:

Start with talking to the secretary at your school. SPS just implemented a new building use policy, and reservations are all made online.

Building Reservation Information from Seattle Public Schools

FAQ on Building Rentals from SPS

Seattle Council PTSA General Meeting: Update from Superintendent Jose Banda and Information on Upcoming SPS Levies

Meeting Followed by Informational Session on Charter School Initiative 1240

Monday, October 15 at the John Stanford Center Auditorium

Snacks and Socializing: 6:30 to 7:00pm

General Meeting: 7:00 to 7:45pm

Informational Session: 7:45 to 8:30pm

General Meeting

The Seattle Council PTSA will host our first General Meeting of the year. We have a packed agenda.

Update from Superintendent: Jose Banda will discuss the latest happenings in SPS.

Seattle Council PTSA Business: We will be electing our Nominating Committee at this meeting, among other things.

Levies Presentation: We will hear information on the upcoming operations and BEX IV levy that will go before voters in February, 2013.

A note on voting at SCPTSA General Meetings: Our meetings are open to PTA leaders, members and other interested community members; however, voting is limited to members of the Seattle Council PTSA. At this meeting, the Seattle Council PTSA will elect a Nominating Committee. Each local PTA and PTSA in Seattle is a member of the Seattle Council PTSA, and each gets one vote. That vote typically belongs to the President of each PTA or PTSA. If the President cannot attend, another member of the PTA's executive board or an assigned delegate may vote in their place.

Information Session on Charter School Initiative 1240

The Charter School Initiative will be on the ballot this November. This is a hot topic, and we want Seattle PTA leaders and members to have the opportunity to better understand what is inside this initiative so you can make an informed decision when you vote. Ramona Hattendorf, Government Relations Coordinator of the Washington State PTA, will be answering specific questions about the initiative as it is written. We will collect questions about the initiative ahead of time. If you have a question you'd like answered at the informational session, please email it to Rita Sheckler at president@seattlecouncilptsa.org by October 8.

REFLECTIONS 2012-2013

The Reflections Art Program is a National and State PTA cultural arts competition. The purpose of the program is to provide an opportunity for students to use their creative talents by expressing themselves through their own original works. Each year, Reflections challenges students to create art that supports a specific theme. This year's theme is: "The Magic of a Moment." A student may submit an entry in any one of six arts areas - Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual Arts, Film/Video and Choreography/Dance. Only original works of art are accepted. Applications may be downloaded from http://www.wastatepta.org/programs/reflections. You will need a student entry form and a rules and guidelines form for the area in which your student is interested in submitting. Submissions are judged in five divisions: Primary -- Preschool - Grade 2; Intermediate -- Grades 3 - 5; Middle/Junior -- Grades 6 - 8; Senior -- Grades 9 - 12; Special Artist. All submissions are due to SCPTSA by December 3rd. Selected work will be exhibited at the Seattle Center, Harrison Street Gallery, from Dec. 10th-31st; the artist reception will be on Sunday, December 16th, from 2-4, at Seattle Center. Finalists could go on to the state and possibly national levels. If you have any questions, please contact your school's Reflections Chair or SCPTSA Reflections Co-Chairs Leanne Hawkins (hawkins1022@msn.com) and Daphne Dejanikus (dsdejan@hotmail.com).

SCPTSA Southeast Co-Area Director, Sebrena Burr, Nominated as Part of the Team in "Gauging School Success"

-From WSPTA

The State Board of Education and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction are developing a new accountability and achievement system that will incorporate student growth and establish a unified system for evaluating school and district performance. The agencies are doing so in collaboration with state and local policy makers, educators, parents and citizens.

Washington State PTA advocates for necessary funding, policies and practices to ensure all children are able to graduate ready for college or career. The association is participating in an accountability workgroup established by the state board and schools superintendent, and President Novella Fraser has nominated Sebrena Burr to represent the association. Ms. Burr is a local and council PTSA leader in Seattle and is active in efforts to increase access to quality early education and close the state's pervasive achievement gaps.

Ramona Hattendorf

Government relations coordinator

Washington State PTA

www.wastatepta.org

PTA & the Law

Tuesday, October 2

5:00pm-9:00 pm at Shoreline Center 18560 1st Ave. NE, Shoreline, WA 98155

-From Region 6

Your PTA board of directors is responsible for the fiscal, moral and legal obligations of your local unit, which is a non-profit corporation subject to state and federal regulations. PTA & the Law is here to help you stay on track for success!

State PTA leaders will conduct this three hour interactive workshop. You will meet other Region 6 PTA leaders and get the answers to questions that will help you guide your PTA in the coming year.

Even if you have attended the class before, state and federal regulations keep changing. PTA & the Law lets you become an expert on those changes without having to pore over IRS and wa.gov websites.

Topics include: The Nature of your PTA; Protection from Liability; What it Means to be a Non-Profit; State and Local Tax Matters; Auctions - and many more. The $40 fee covers as many executive committee officers, board, and committee chairs as you would like to send. Please plan on attending!

Registration Form

List of dates for other PTA & the Law Classes

Legislative Basics and Legislative Workshop

Tuesday, October 2

7:00-8:30pm at the Shoreline Center, 18560 1st Ave. NE, Shoreline, WA 98155

Free event, please RSVP to RLC6@WaStatePTA.org to ensure enough materials

-From Region 6

Need more information on being a Legislative Chair or want to know more about Legislative Assembly? Attend the "Legislative Basics and Legislative Workshop." This free double class will cover the basics of being a legislative chair, what is advocacy, how to engage your school, your PTA and your state legislators. It also includes a workshop on legislative assembly, how it works, more info on the issues and why every PTA needs to be represented.

Take 5 for Kids and Take the WA State PTA Survey

-From Region 6

WSPTA 2012 Issues Survey Deadline extended until October 3

What is most important to your PTA members? Take a quick PTA Survey and vote for your top priorities. Washington State PTA lobbies on behalf of all members for the well-being and education of Washington youth. Delegates will be meeting this October to determine our new 2 year platform.

There are 18 issues under consideration ranging from revenue, special education, highly capable, professional development, discipline, school safety zones, ELL, literacy, continuing the basic education reforms, grading and family engagement. More information on each issue can be accessed in the new Legislative Assembly Blog or you can click on each issue in the WSPTA 2012 Issues Survey. But hurry, this survey closes on Wednesday, October 3. Questions, contact Rita Sheckler, SCPTSA Co-President (president@seattlecouncilptsa.org) or Heidi Bennett, Region 6 Legislative Chair (heidi@bennettdirect.net).

Opportunities for Families, Community Members to Meet New Seattle Schools Superintendent

-From SPS and SCPTSA

SPS and the Seattle Council PTSA are co-hosting three more community meetings. During the meetings Superintendent Banda will briefly talk about his vision for the school district, followed by informal conversations with those in attendance. Those meetings are scheduled from 6-7:30pm on the following dates:

Monday, October 1 - Bryant Elementary School, 3311 N.E. 60th St

Tuesday, October 2 - Concord International Elementary School, 723 S. Concord St

Monday, October 8 - Hamilton International Middle School, 1610 N. 41st St

We Need You! SCPTSA is Currently Seeking Two New Board Members for the 2012-2013 School Year

The Seattle Council PTSA has the following Council positions open for the 2012-2013 year: NW Area Director and SW Area Director.

If you know of any great candidates who are interested in issues that affect every child; who routinely attend meetings; is interested in city-wide issues and has a strong commitment to education, please submit their names to us. SCPTSA welcomes potential Board candidates who represent our Seattle communities; who have diverse viewpoints and backgrounds and have the time and energy to make positive changes for all children. Please submit your recommendations to Lauren McGuire and Rita Sheckler at president@seattlecouncilptsa.org.

Attend WA State PTA Legislative Assembly and Have Your PTA Represented

Friday and Saturday, October 19 and 20

SeaTac Marriot Hotel (Hotel reservations must be made separately)

-From Region 6

Join us for the premier advocacy, legislation training and planning event of the year! Local units and councils send delegates to our statewide Legislative Assembly to develop our statewide legislative platform and to learn how to effectively advocate for children at all levels. Any PTA member can attend but you must have a delegate card to vote.

Register before 10/3 and Save! The costs per person (no meals or hotel) is $145 with the early registration, or $185 after 10/4. Seattle Council PTSA offers grants for those who need financial help. Click here for the leadership grant form and contact SCPTSA Co-President, Rita Sheckler president@seattlecouncilptsa.org for approval. Students are welcome and can receive a discounted rate.

Help Your PTA Learn More about the School Levies and How to Support Them

-From Schools First

Two crucial levy renewals will be on the ballot this school year. The first, an Operations Levy, funds approximately 30% of the District's operating budget. Past operating levies partially paid for instructional programs; costs related to full-day kindergarten; a sixth period at high schools; student activities such as athletics, drama and music; bilingual and special education services; textbooks and classroom supplies; transportation and security. The second, a Capital Levy (BEX IV), funds building and infrastructure projects. It is expected that BEX IV will, in part, be used to address over capacity issues in the District by creating new or improved classroom space.

Historically, many PTAs have endorsed the levies, provided a PTA donation to the campaign and school parents have actively volunteered to support passage of the levies. Schools First, the non-profit, volunteer coalition that campaigns for renewal of the levies, has speakers available to come to one of your meetings to share information about the levies and discuss the endorsement/donation process. Please contact Kerry Cooley-Stroum, who will be on the Scholars at Garfield/PTA Academic Committee this year, at kcs@seanet.com for more information, and to schedule a brief presentation for your October or November board meeting. More information is available at www.schoolsfirstseattle.org.

Thank you,

Greg Wong, Schools First President